Eva Longoria thinks it is ''awesome'' to have been named woman of the year by Maxim magazine.

The 38-year-old actress told the men's magazine it was ''awesome'' to receive the accolade and she was delighted with the photoshoot which accompanied her crowning.

She said: ''It's especially awesome after how long it's been since my first cover. ''I've had a beautiful relationship with Maxim over all these years ... When someone sees the cover of this issue, they're going to say, '¡Que rico!' ... Say it when something is really good.''

Because of her sexy image, the former 'Desperate Housewives' actress admits people are often ''surprised'' be her ''domestic'' skills.

She said: ''One thing people are usually surprised about when they get to know me is how domestic I am.

So when you see the sexy Maxim cover and then you put it against me in an apron with flour in my hair, it takes a moment to reconcile that image.''

Eva - who previously owned a restaurant, released a cook book and is involved with a number of charities - was recently awarded her master's degree in Chicano Studies and says she has always had diverse interests.

She said: ''Back in high school I really was the chameleon, too. I got along with the honours math club, then I would go to cheerleading practice, and then I was a band geek as well.''